Apple has unveiled new MacBook Pro models today, powered by M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. Here are the details.
14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro arrives with high-end M5 Pro and M5 Max chips
Today is the second day in a row of Apple hardware launches, and the company is focused on the Mac.
The M5 MacBook Pro first arrived in October, but only in a 14-inch model with no high-end chip configurations.
Today, Apple has launched the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models we’ve been waiting for. They’re powered by the new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.
“MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max redefines what’s possible on a pro laptop, now up to 4x faster than the previous generation,” said John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. “With Neural Accelerators in the GPU, the new MacBook Pro enables professionals to run advanced LLMs on device and unlock capabilities that no other laptop can do — all while maintaining exceptional battery life. Combined with even faster unified memory and storage, it empowers users to take their work even further, unleashing new possibilities and pushing the boundaries of what they can do.”
This latest MacBook Pro looks and feels just like its predecessor, offering the same industrial design that’s been around since 2021. If you’re interested in a new design, that’s rumored for later this year.
New features of the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro are focused on Apple silicon and storage upgrades.
Apple silicon and storage upgrades are the core improvements in new MacBook Pro
The M5 Pro and M5 Max chips make the new MacBook Pro the most powerful laptop Apple sells.
Each chip features an up-to-18-core CPU with 6 “super cores.” Apple says these are the fastest CPU cores in the world. Joining these super cores are up to 12 performance cores that together deliver up to 30 percent faster overall performance.
The GPU is a huge part of the story too thanks to the addition of Neural Accelerators in each core. M5 Pro and M5 Max deliver “up to 4x faster LLM prompt processing” than M4 Pro and M4 Max. It also brings a 50 percent increase in graphics performance.
SSD speed is another area of improvement. It’s now faster than ever with up to 2x faster performance than the prior generation.
Storage options also now start higher than before:
- 1TB of storage for M5 Pro models
- 2TB for M5 Max models
Another Apple silicon-related upgrade is the addition of the N1 wireless chip. N1 enables Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support, and Apple says it improves wireless performance and reliability over prior MacBook Pros.
N1 debuted in the iPhone 17 line last fall, when Apple explained that it also improves reliability of cross-platform features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop.
Battery life in the new MacBook Pro is mostly the same as the M4 generation, or slightly better.
Apple quotes identical numbers for M5 Pro models. However, M5 Max configurations get a little boost. The 14-inch M5 Max model delivers up to 20 hours vs only 18 on the M4 Max, and for 16-inch models you get 22 hours vs the prior 21.
New MacBook Pro colors, pricing, availability
The new MacBook Pro comes in two colors: Space Black and Silver.
Here’s the pricing for the new M5 MacBook Pro models:
- 14‑inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro starts at $2,199, and M5 Max starts at $3,599
- 16‑inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro starts at $2,699 and M5 Max starts at $3,899
These prices start higher than the previous generation, which sold for $1,999 and $2,499, respectively. However, the bumped starting storage helps explain the difference.
Pre-orders begin tomorrow, March 4, at 6:15 a.m. PT. It will ship to users beginning Wednesday, March 11.
Are you upgrading to a new MacBook Pro with M5 Pro or M5 Max? Let us know in the comments.
Best Mac accessories
- AirPods Pro 3 (limited-time $219 price)
- 100W USB-C power adapter for fast charging
- tomtoc protective MacBook sleeve bag
- Twelve South aluminum laptop stand for MacBooks
- Anker Docking Station USB-C with Ethernet, HDMI, SD, more
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